Our Petaluma personal injury attorneys look back on 2015 and hope that a year of daily car crash injuries has come to an end. The region around Petaluma, our personal injury attorneys recall, seemed like a magnet for car accidents. However, since little new has been done to enhance safety, our personal injury law attorneys are concerned the risks will remain escalated in and around Petaluma. Car crash injury and death, in fact, may even worsen if traffic officials and the public fail to manage current and potential new threats. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys consider a few top concerns as we look at a new year of driving.

Serious Petaluma car accident injuries and deaths happen on Hwy. 101 where excessive speed congestion is not uncommon. In addition, our Petaluma personal injury lawyers say, winding rural roads also tempt dangerous driving that contributes to accidents. Some of the causes of Petaluma car crash injury and death can be prevented, according to our personal injury attorneys. In this blog, we look at three areas of driving safety that call for attention if we are to diminish the incidence of Petaluma car accident injuries and deaths.

DUIs get more complicatedA frequent factor in Petaluma car accident injuries and death is alcohol. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys know that drunk driving is preventable and that it’s a factor in too many Petaluma car crash injuries. In this case, our Petaluma personal injury attorneys feel that public education is essential to mitigating the problem. When law enforcement determines alcohol is a factor in a Petaluma car accident with injuries, DUI motorists are dealt with swiftly and harshly. However, our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys know that punishment isn’t enough to prevent intoxicated motorists from getting behind the wheel. Drivers must fully understand their responsibilities in Petaluma. Car crash injury and death due to intoxication won’t diminish until people think before they take a drink.

This leads our Petaluma personal injury lawyers to highlight a new threat to safety on the roadways of Petaluma. Car crash injury due to intoxicated driving will likely get a boost if California moves to legalize the use of marijuana. Like you, our personal injury law attorneys have taken note of a new Caltrans campaign regarding “buzzed driving.” Electronic signs over our freeways warn that DUI driving includes the effects of a marijuana high. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys are pleased to see this proactive move to prevent Petaluma car accident injuries and deaths even before recreational pot is legal here. However, personal injury lawyers know that it’s not simple for law enforcement to determine the DUI level of buzzed drivers. After a Petaluma car crash causes injury, the standard sobriety tests may not prove a driver was too high on pot to drive. This is because, according to our Petaluma personal injury attorneys, certain metabolites in marijuana are present in users for days or weeks after use. If a driver causes a Petaluma car accident with injuries, but passes physical sobriety tests, our personal injury attorneys say, a subsequent blood test can’t conclusively show when the pot was used. This is a new challenge for law enforcement to face in handling suspected Petaluma DUI car accidents and injuries.

Petaluma personal injury attorneys say that Colorado’s legalization of pot highlighted the DUI challenges. And, if Colorado is a model of what can happen, our personal injury attorneys fear that Petaluma car crash injury and death will likely rise if California also legalizes marijuana. Personal injury law attorneys report that, after legalization of recreational marijuana, Colorado logged a 32 percent increase of car crash injury or death. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys hope that field and lab testing for DUI driving will eventually meet the challenges of marijuana legalization.

Are drivers distracted in Petaluma?Car accident injury and death due to distracted driving is a serious problem throughout California and in Petaluma. Personal injury law attorneys say distracted driving is yet another offense that’s hard for law enforcement to prove after a Petaluma car accident. An injury or death that happens because a driver was texting or using electronics may be suspected – but without an admission by the driver is only that – a suspicion. Our Petaluma personal injury attorneys say this is yet another opportunity for aggressive public education. Car accident injuries and deaths will only rise as technology offers more mobile distractions for drivers in Petaluma, and more car crash injuries. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys say that public education and public policy are critical to prevent car crash injury and death. In this arena, our Petaluma personal injury lawyers report that new California legislation will prohibit the wearing of ear buds and headphones while driving. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys hope more common sense regulations will be adopted to stem the rash of Petaluma car crash injuries and deaths due to distracted driving.

Awareness of others needed in PetalumaCar accident injuries and deaths to pedestrians and bicyclists is yet another source of preventable car crash injury. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys know that bicyclists are a particular concern in the region. Rural roads invite avid bicyclists and consequently lead to Petaluma car accident injuries or death. Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers believe that motorists and bike riders need to be aware of each other on the beautiful byways of Petaluma. Car accident injuries can be avoided if bikers and drivers are mutually courteous and share the road. However, we know that Petaluma car accident injuries almost always do the most harm to the bicyclist. Consequently, our personal injury law attorneys advise bike riders to be extremely vigilant and never to assume the behavior of motorists.

As 2016 progresses, our Personal injury law attorneys will continue to support programs that focus on preventable Petaluma accidents. Injury and death do not have to be commonplace on our freeways and rural roads. Our personal injury lawyers believe that safety from Petaluma car crash injuries is a mutual responsibility of both individual motorists and law enforcement officials.

As residents of Petaluma, our personal injury law attorneys are aware of heavy, big-rig traffic that travels Highway 101 through Petaluma. Car accident attorneys deal closely with the victims of crashes involving commercial trucks and know that physical car crash injuries are usually very severe. We also know that motorists are generally on the losing end of a truck collision in Petaluma. Personal injury law attorneys remind motorists that big-rigs are as much as 30 times the weight of a car. Other factors that tip the scales include the height of many trucks, according to Petaluma car accident attorneys at Sette Law. Cars can be wedged beneath semi-truck trailers, causing grave injury to Petaluma car accident victims. Attorneys believe that both motorists and truckers could be much safer if drivers exercised more caution and better judgment on the roadways of Petaluma. Personal injury law attorneys report that there are about 5 million big-rigs and buses sharing the roads with 250 million noncommercial vehicles.

Our personal injury law attorneys dedicate this month’s blog to looking more closely at what causes trucking accidents and how they can be avoided in Petaluma. Our car accident lawyers know that truckers face special challenges as drivers of big-rigs. As personal injury attorneys it’s our business to know the statistics related to Petaluma car accidents. Our lawyers, for example, report that professional truck drivers actually have a good safety record nationally and in Petaluma. But personal injury attorneys caution that when car verses big-rig accidents happen, the most severe injuries are inflicted on motorists. The sheer size and force of big-rig trucks, Petaluma car crash attorneys admit, makes motorists highly vulnerable to death or grave injury in a car accident.

Attorneys know that, given the amount of traffic on the 101 and other roadways around Petaluma it’s inevitable that there will be car accidents. Our attorneys add that data from the State Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) indicates that trucking accidents are on the rise. In 2013 OTS reported 278 statewide fatalities and more than 7,500 injury car accidents. Lawyers cite this as the highest number in the past four years. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys feel that it’s time to alert motorists to the need for heightened vigilance. OTS statistics also track which driver is at fault in truck verses car accidents. Our attorneys say that, most often, it’s the motorist’s behavior that leads to the Petaluma car crash. However, lawyers add that truckers also employ poor judgement and driving habits that lead to Petaluma car crash injuries.

Attorneys Look at Technology to Prevent Fatal Car Accidents

Attorneys say that government agencies and professional associations track data regarding truck verses car accidents. Fatigue, attorneys report, is among the top reasons that truckers cause serious car accidents. Personal injury law attorneys add that trucker braking-distance and excessive speed are other factors that contribute to Petaluma car accidents. Attorneys report that truckers are limited to eleven hours of driving per day. Drivers record their hours in written logs. Our personal injury lawyers say that handwritten records can easily be changed, allowing fatigued truckers on the roadways of Petaluma. Car accident attorneys say that safety groups are advocating for an electronic time management system to prevent drowsy driving that can lead to deadly car accidents. Again, attorneys point out that it’s motorists and not professional drivers who cause most trucking accidents.

Our attorneys say that there is also a call for improvement to the braking system of trucks. Our Petaluma personal injury law attorneys say a new “stability control system” is scheduled to be implemented in 2017. This innovation, our car accident attorneys explain, will help prevent often deadly roll-overs of semi-trucks and trailers when brakes are aggressively used. Further, Petaluma car accident attorneys say that poor maintenance of brake systems on big-rigs has also contributed to truck verses car accidents.

Injuries, attorneys add, may also be prevented with changes that can prevent vehicles from being wedged beneath big-rig trailers in Petaluma. Our personal injury attorneys support the addition of rear underride guard improvement for large trucks and single-unit trucks (such as dump trucks). Car accident attorneys explain that the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration is still to rule on these proposals. But, our personal injury law attorneys point out that IIHS is unsatisfied with NHSTA’s response to these efforts to reduce underride car accidents. Attorneys say IIHS claims that even Canada’s higher safety standards for trucks may also be inadequate. According to many safety experts, deaths and car crash injuries could be significantly lowered with a greater investment in changes to the underride system.

Car accident attorneys say that some grim statistics support the need for greater attention to truckers on the freeways of Petaluma. Personal injury law attorneys report that in crashes involving trucks, 67 percent are motorist fatalities and 16 percent are occupants of trucks. Our car cash injury lawyers think this is graphic evidence of the need for enhanced safety practices on trucking corridors of Petaluma.

Personal injury law attorneys say that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analyzed the most common behaviors causing truck verses car accident injuries and deaths. Statistics reveal that truckers making improper turns, exceeding speed limits and not adhering to right-of-way laws lead to most truck and car crash accident injuries and deaths.

Drivers Need to Accept Responsibility in PetalumaPersonal injury law attorneys believe that motorists need to step up to the reality of sharing the road with large, heavy trucks. Trucking accidents on the freeways of Petaluma, accident attorneys know, often involve family vehicles. It’s every drivers’ responsibility to be aware of surrounding traffic movement including, our Petaluma accident attorneys say, the inherent challenges faced by big-rig drivers. Behind the wheel of a 20 ton, loaded big-rig traveling at freeway speeds, a trucker has fewer options than a motorist in Petaluma. Accident attorneys remind motorists that they too, can play a role in avoiding a trucking collision. Safety in Petaluma, our personal injury attorneys say, is a shared responsibility.

Petaluma car accident attorneys were alarmed to read a news report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcing a significant rise is traffic deaths throughout the state. This most recent study, showing a traffic death toll of 3,104 in 2013, should concern all drivers in Petaluma. Car crash attorneys at Sette Law are aware that our community is at risk due to our high commuter traffic and our location. More drivers on our roadways logically means the threat of increased Petaluma car crashes is imminent. Drivers and others are vulnerable to a Petaluma car accident, attorneys observe, because NHTSA has identified four major reasons that car accident deaths have significantly risen, 13 percent in California and 10 percent nationwide over the past three years.

Drivers of Accident Data are Present in PetalumaRising car accident incidents, attorneys report, are partly a response to the return of a healthier economy. The NHSTA study indicated that the end of the Great Recession also marked increased traffic on America’s roadways – meaning even more visitors driving through Petaluma. Car crash attorneys are aware of a flurry of serious accidents in and around Petaluma. Car accident injuries and deaths were traced to drivers traveling the wrong way on freeways, driving under the influence, distracted drivers and other causes. Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers want to alert the community to this troubling trend and take a look at the causes in greater detail. Interestingly, our Petaluma personal injury attorneys say that traffic officials point to “life style changes” and technology as contributors to high car accident statistics.

Among the top sources of acceleration in accidents, according to NHTSA, is the growing popularity of motorcycles – a favorite recreational ride around Petaluma. Car accident injury, attorneys point out, are usually far more severe for people on motorcycles who are usually on the losing end of any Petaluma car crash. Attorneys say that post-recession spending included a rise in purchases of the big touring-style bikes favored by older riders. Unfortunately, these hefty bikes are hard to control and a crash can inflict a very serious Petaluma car accident injury. Attorneys say that, nationally, incidents of motorcycle accidents have been rising since 2010.

The same is true of bicyclists who sustain Petaluma car crash injuries. Our attorneys know that bicycling throughout our beautiful Wine Country and Coastal regions is highly popular. And the NHTSA report indicates that bicycling is also another troubling contributor to the increase in accident injuries and deaths. When it comes to a Petaluma car accident injury, our attorneys know that the bicyclist will almost always suffer the most severe harm. When out touring our winding country roads, we urge bicyclists to exert extreme caution in Petaluma.

Personal injury attorneys are particularly watching the data concerning our newest threat to safety on the roadways – distracted driving in Petaluma. Car accident attorneys know this phenomenon has grown exponentially, as technology hands us all more ways to communicate, wherever we are. As throughout the nation, Petaluma car crash injuries will only rise as new apps let us run so many aspects of our lives from a tiny screen that fits in one hand. But, in most instances, it’s not legal in California and Petaluma. Personal injury attorneys believe that state law still has to catch up with the multiple use of apps that contribute to distracted driving in Petaluma. Car accident attorneys, for example, report that looking at map apps or even Face Book isn’t yet addressed in laws that prohibit other kinds of cell phone use.

Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers say that it’s a challenge for traffic officials to really assess cell phone usage by drivers. Not all drivers admit to using these devices while driving around California and in Petaluma and related car crash injuries are not attributed to distracted driving. According to the Office of Traffic Safety, just 9.2 percent of drivers say they have been distracted by electronics while driving. Our Petaluma personal injury attorneys suspect the real number is much higher. Car accident data, attorneys say, is hard to gather, and data is what drives the development of traffic laws.

Driving under the influence is yet another factor in Petaluma car crash injuries. Attorneys regard this behavior as particularly heinous because DUI accidents are entirely preventable in Petaluma. Car crash injury increases, attorneys say, as alcohol is no longer the only source of intoxication and impairment for drivers in Petaluma. Car accidents due to marijuana use are an increasing concern, as is the use of prescription drugs. Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers are interested in tracking data from states that have legalized recreational marijuana. With that information, California traffic officials could create reasonable DUI laws to prevent accident increase throughout California and all around Petaluma.

Car Accident Attorneys Support Strict Enforcement in PetalumaCar accident injuries, our attorneys believe, would be reduced with strong enforcement of laws and public education that protect drivers in Petaluma. Personal injury lawyers recall that the introduction of seat belts was initially met with resistance. But, with increased fines and active enforcement of the law, seat belts were accepted. Now, the OTS says 97 percent of drivers use seat belts. Petaluma car crash injuries fell significantly, like they did throughout the nation, because of this innovation, education and acceptance. Petaluma personal injury attorneys at Sette Law believe the same kind of educational outreach, coupled with strict enforcement, could impact the growing distracted driving statistics and diminish DUI accidents in Petaluma.

Personal Injury Attorneys Look to Turn the Trend in PetalumaRising car accident injuries have our attorneys’ attention. We know that Petaluma car crash injuries will continue to happen, but we believe the upward trend can be reversed. Particularly when it comes to Petaluma car accident injuries that are preventable – and originate with irresponsible behavior such as distracted driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers want our families and others in the community to remain safe on our streets and roadways. As car accident attorneys in Petaluma it’s our job to help victims rebound from losses after an accident and as members of the community it also our responsibility to help prevent Petaluma Car accident injuries.

As a friendly and close knit community, personal injury attorneys at Sette law share a desire to foster safety in Petaluma. Car accident injuries are among the most common cases our Petaluma injury lawyers encounter in our legal practice. We know the pain and expense a car crash injury can cause, but when children are the victims, our car accident attorneys are particularly concerned. Like parents throughout Petaluma, personal injury lawyers at Sette cannot bear to see a youngster in pain. So, as the school year commences, we will devote this Blog to information about how to keep our young people safer from Petaluma car accidents and injuries.

With frequent exposure to the details of car crash injuries, our attorneys have concluded that many are preventable and would not have occurred if motorists had been adhering to traffic laws in Petaluma. Personal injury lawyers know that just one lapse of a safety regulation can change a life forever with tragic car accident injuries. Our lawyers know that a neglectful driver can never ‘take back’ a moment of carelessness, and regret may last a lifetime. Here are some very basic (but important) traffic regulations to help keep children safer from Petaluma car accident injuries.

Our attorneys start with our youngest – babies and toddlers. To protect these tiny passengers from car crash injuries the State of California requires drivers transporting children under the age of eight to ride in an approved car seat or booster seat secured in the back seat. Petaluma injury lawyers say that nationwide data shows that car seats do, in fact, prevent car crash injuries. As local personal injury attorneys we are pleased to observe this rule seems to be followed by drivers transporting children in Petaluma.

Car Accident lawyers add that the state does allow for some exceptions to this rule, such as a medical condition prohibiting a child from riding in the back seat, of if the restraints in back seats do not work. Parents are advised to check DMV regulations regarding exceptions for children in Petaluma. But personal injury attorneys urge drivers to follow the letter of the law to keep their youngest passengers safe from serious car accident injuries. Lawyers recall that drivers may occasionally think a short trip to, say, the grocery store, might not pose a risk of a serious car accident. But attorneys are well aware that most accidents do happen within a few miles of a driver’s home.

Yet another threat to young passenger safety is the nation’s newest scourge – distracted driving through use of electronic devices. Our Petaluma personal injury attorneys regularly observe drivers checking cell phones and texting while driving, though these practices are clearly forbidden by law. Talking on a cell phone is, of course, permitted if the driver has hands free technology. However, experienced car crash lawyers know that many studies have shown that any use of a cell phone while driving raises the risk of a car accident. Lawyers say the texting rule is very specific and includes prohibition of reading texts, writing them and sending test messages. Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers add that sending emails and instant messages is also against the law. Furthermore, teen drivers are specifically prohibited from use of any electronic devices, including hands-free calling.

To end this dangerous distracted driving in Petaluma, our injury and car accident attorneys say the job must be done as a matter of community conscience. Fines for distracted driving are not very high, so personal injury attorneys say that financial loss may not be a big motivator.

Another risk to young people is young drivers themselves. According to national statistics, teen drivers pose the most risks in Petaluma. Car accident lawyers say the high incidence of car crash injury caused by teenage drivers is no mystery. The human brain (including the capacity for judgment) develops well in the 20s and our injury lawyers point out that most teens are not yet equipped to make driving decisions. Fortunately, relatively new state regulations help prepare teens to drive more safely in Petaluma. Personal injury attorneys report that a program called Graduated Diver Licensing in now in effect for teen drivers. This involves driver education and training, along with requirements that prevent teens from swiftly moving from permit to license in Petaluma. Car Accident lawyers remember when simply passing a few tests was almost sufficient to get a full-fledged license at the age of 16. Now, our personal injury attorneys say that law has paired up with science and accident data to make roads safer in California and in Petaluma.

Car crash injury attorneys say that cars can pose a danger to children even when they are not moving in traffic in Petaluma. Our injury lawyers recall the tragic deaths that have occurred when drivers left young children in a locked car in the summer’s sun. Current California state law prohibits drivers from locking children, age six or less, inside a car in hot weather or if a car’s engine is running. Petaluma accident attorneys wish that common sense would prevail and such laws were not necessary. But, as personal injury attorneys we have seen the harm done to children when adults fail to be responsible.

Yet another common sense protection cited by our Petaluma car accident attorneys is a prohibition against smoking in automobiles when a child is a passenger. Smoking, of course, may not present an imminent danger to passengers, but our personal injury lawyers are well aware of the potential health effects with repeated exposure to second-hand smoke.

Keeping young people safe on the streets and roadways is a goal that our personal injury attorneys feel is attainable. As adult drivers we have the ability to make sound judgments to protect the youngest and most vulnerable in beautiful Petaluma. Our car crash injury lawyers strongly urge the drivers in our community to follow the letter of the law when it comes to traffic. Our experience as car accident attorneys makes us keenly aware that just one lapse in attention can prove to be a deadly decision.

People who have been harmed due to the negligent acts of another person often suffer extreme financial hardship and physical pain. It’s our job as Petaluma accident and injury lawyers to help victims regain their losses and continue to physically heal. As legal professionals were are keenly aware of how complicated our legal system is when it comes to personal injury law, and attorneys at Petaluma’s Sette Law firm know what it takes to navigate this challenging legal arena. Unfortunately, personal injury law requires attorneys who specialize in injury law and is generally well beyond the capacity of someone lacking a juris doctorate degree, along with significant experience in personal injury law.

Attorneys recognize that personal injury law is widely misunderstood and, even, maligned. Nonetheless, our Petaluma injury lawyers know that the clients we’ve represented are resoundingly grateful for our representation. Until a person experiences the painful and costly consequences of an injury accident, our attorneys know the importance of our expertise as personal injury lawyers may be underestimated. When medical costs, financial losses and physical harm are the result of negligence, it’s only right that victims of an injury accident have attorneys to help them recover to the fullest extent possible. Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers are committed to this singular goal and we are proud of our ability to serve the community as specialized legal professionals.

Unfortunately, people (and entities) seldom take responsibility for being the cause of an accident. Attorneys know that admitting culpability after an accident goes against common sense, and that most people adopt a defensive position – denying responsibility for an accident. Injury lawyers help accident victims to legally establish the facts and circumstances that caused injury. Our attorneys are committed to bringing justice to people harmed by the negligent acts of others that have caused financial loss and personal injury.

Attorneys Outline Array of Petaluma Injury AccidentsLawyers at Sette Law say the nature and variety of personal injury accidents our attorneys handle is almost endless. Often, the only common element is that our client has received a serious personal injury. Attorneys say the most frequent causes include the wide array vehicle collisions, from truck and motorcycle, to car accidents. Lawyers for personal injury clients in vehicle accidents must clearly establish that a defendant has clear liability for the accident. Attorneys for the defense, on the other hand, will work to absolve their client of liability. Lawyers for the plaintiff may be able to prove a number of incriminating driver behaviors on the part of the defendant such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, breaking traffic laws or driving recklessly as contributing to the Petaluma accident and injury.

Attorneys also represent people who have been injured by medical malpractice. Lawyers explain that, although physicians may be the source of an injury, a hospital or representative medical professional such as a nurse or therapist, may also be party to medical malpractice. Injury lawyers admit this arena of injury law can be very complicated and the legal process lengthy. In addition, malpractice lawsuits may involve wrongful death. Our attorneys say the emotional burden is often overwhelming for the survivors of a loved one who was the victim of a malpractice wrongful death. Our lawyers add that medical malpractice lawsuits can pit an individual of family against health provider groups that unite to fight legal challenges, heightening the importance of engaging a professional and competent personal injury attorney.

Yet another arena of personal injury that lawyers frequently encounter involves defective products that have caused injury. Attorneys often work on behalf of individuals who may face teams of lawyers protecting their corporate client. On occasion, liability and accident lawyers will represent groups of clients who claim harm from a common source. Petaluma personal injury lawyers explain that defective product litigation can be further complicated by the possibility that more than one point in a chain of responsibility may share liability. Attorneys may identify, say, the designer of a faulty product, the manufacturer, the marketer or others involved in producing the defective product.

Personal injury lawyers also handle premises liability cases in which someone on private (or public) property has sustained a personal injury. Attorneys say the common ‘slip and fall’ accident comes under this category of personal injury. But lawyers are quick to caution that there is nothing “simple” about such cases. When someone is injured on private property, such as a retail store, an office building or a personal residence, the responsible owner (or manager) must be proven liable for the injury. Attorneys explain that negligence must be a factor. Here’s a brief example: A child drops a jar on the floor of a supermarket. Her mother picks up the glass, severs a finger and sues the store for her injury. Lawyers for the supermarket would rightly argue that the store owner had no knowledge of the danger and, therefore, could not have prevented the dangerous condition. Petaluma personal injury attorneys say that property owners are protected from frivolous and/or malicious lawsuits and claims of injury.

Attorneys Step Up for Victims of InjuryLawyers who choose personal injury law as a focus represent individuals who, on their own, would have little chance of recovering losses caused by their injury. Our attorneys have dedicated many decades of education and active practice to building our expertise so that aggrieved members of our community can successfully recover financial losses incurred because of someone’s negligence that caused their injury. Our attorneys have a passion for the practice of personal injury law, coupled with a commitment to serve our neighbors in Petaluma. Our injury lawyers not only guide clients through an unfamiliar and daunting process, but we also provide people with comfort and confidence. An adept and experienced personal injury attorney can lighten the burden of an accident victim and help them to focus on the future. From the countless letters and comments received by our Petaluma personal injury attorneys, we know that our clients appreciate our work and benefit from our dedication to a proud legal profession.

At Sette Law, our Petaluma personal injury attorneys know that most people are at least vaguely aware of slip and fall litigation. For instance, someone falls in a retail store, breaks a leg and subsequently sues the store owner to recover financial losses due to the serious injury. Lawyers, however, are quick to point out that this kind of law is under the umbrella of premises liability and is often anything but simple. In this July blog our Petaluma injury and accident attorneys will discuss a few of the complexities and details included in this arena of law.

Personal injury attorneys say that slip and fall incidents are very common civil court actions nationally and in Petaluma. Accident lawyers say that slip and fall liability allows the average person to recoup often significant costs incurred due to the negligence of another party. Certainly, our injury personal lawyers agree that this legal option creates greater vigilance on the part of property owners, provides financial redress for losses suffered by slip and fall victims and helps to protect people from injury. Attorneys believe that premises law serves the cause of justice, but has also been abused by litigants in the past. Consequently, laws have been refined and increasingly included protections for property owners from people who claim harm when there has been no verifiable injury accident. Lawyers must be aware of provisions that protect both the public from harm and the property owner from frivolous claims of losses due to injury.

Attorneys Outline Slip and Fall LiabilityPetaluma personal injury lawyers will first verify that the condition or item that caused a slip and fall accident can be linked to the premises owner or to his or her employee. Secondly, our liability lawyers will seek to establish these parties knew about the danger and still did nothing to remedy the condition that led to the injury. Attorneys know that current law indicates that owners exert the most control over their property and therefore bear significant responsibility to protect users of their property from harm and injury.

Our personal injury lawyers use the following example – If the owner of a boutique hotel in Petaluma knows an air conditioning unit is leaking water onto the entry stairs below and does nothing to remedy that condition, a patron or visitor who slips and falls would likely have a valid claim for personal injury. Attorneys would point to the building owner (or an employee) as responsible for the Petaluma injury.

But lawyers say that other circumstances could change potential liability. Consider a guest on the second floor of hotel property who decides to have a smoke and chooses to do so sitting atop the window air conditioning unit. It breaks free and crashes to the ground, leaving the guest with a debilitating back injury. Here, attorneys for the property owner would have a strong case against liability for the injury accident. Lawyers would rightly point out that air conditioners were never intended for use as chairs and the responsibility lies with the guest. Our Petaluma personal injury attorneys say that uses outside the “normal” and commonly understood can imply a lack of liability on the part of the property owner.

Slip and fall injury accidents send lawyers into investigations that can involve several layers of potential liability. Often a building will have an owner, a manager, a lessee or tenant and employees. Petaluma personal injury attorneys are tasked with making certain an injury plaintiff identifies the proper responsible party. When this is not initially clear, an accident and injury lawyer can issue a notice of claim for more than one party – for example, an owner and a manager. If the responsible person is not noticed in the initial claim, the plaintiff may lose the ability to file at a later time. Slip and fall injury attorneys often leave the determination of responsibility up to insurance companies for the respective parties.

Liability Statutes Protect the Public from InjuryAttorneys explain that property owners have a specific responsibility that’s defined as a Duty of Care. This comes with the privilege of owning real property. The law says that a property owner must take reasonable care to provide a safe environment that protects visitors and others from injury. But attorneys say this concept really can’t be exactly defined and universally applied to specific conditions that contribute to a Petaluma slip and fall accident. Lawyers for the injured party will have to carefully scrutinize the details of each case.

Our Petaluma personal injury lawyers offer the following example: A young child spills a bottle of water on the floor of a neighborhood grocery store and mom and toddler run off to find a store employee. Within seconds another shopper comes along and slips and falls, sustaining a serious knee injury. Lawyers say it’s not likely the store would be held responsible because the owner or employees had no notice or knowledge of the spill. However, if store management knew about the spill, left the water in the floor for thirty minutes and then a shopper slipped and fell, the store would likely shoulder liability. Attorneys further explain that property owners can take precautions to protect themselves. If store employees had surrounded the spill area with barriers and “caution” signs and someone breeched those barriers and fell, the property owner may not be held liable for the accident. Attorneys point out that ideas such as reasonable judgment pay a role in slip and fall injury claims.

Petaluma personal injury lawyers don’t expect average consumers to know all the nuances of slip and fall cases. Our most experienced liability attorneys continue to encounter new circumstances that call for additional research. But, one practice we can advise for people who experience a slip and fall accident is to pay attention to the details of the accident. Our attorneys say that noting the substance on the floor that caused the fall is very important for injury attorneys presenting evidence to the court. Our Petaluma liability attorneys know that memory can change and fade with the passage of time, and slip and fall victims must be very clear and consistent about their experience.

Attorneys at Sette Law in Petaluma feel it’s important for the community to be better informed about many aspects of law, such as what happens when a product causes an injury. Our lawyers are well aware that the prospect of facing off in court against a corporation is daunting for any individual who has suffered a personal injury. Attorneys in our firm understand this is intimidating for anyone who is not a legal professional in Petaluma. Liability lawyers have extensive experience in the courtroom environment and help guide clients through the complex process of product liability. Our attorneys, however, want to equip the public with some basic information about product liability and this blog will cover items that just might clarify what it takes to file a lawsuit in Petaluma.

Injury attorneys outline requirementsPetaluma personal injury lawyers work within California statutes that define product liability, which may differ from state to state. In general, there are some key conditions that must be met to show a manufacturer’s product is responsible for personal injury. Attorneys will first establish the fundamental fact that verifiable harm was done and that a plaintiff experienced financial losses because of the personal injury. A lawyer would not agree to accept a case in which someone was ‘nearly’ hurt because of a manufacturer’s defect. Indeed, the condition of “real harm” would not be satisfied. Petaluma liability attorneys offer a hypothetical case: A family buys a glass table top. The manufacturer’s sticker says the glass is tempered and therefore should not break into sharp shards that could cause very serious injury.

Lawyers would agree the sticker serves as evidence of the quality and type of the glass. Upon installing the glass on the table base, the purchaser drops it. The glass beaks into large, sharp chunks and one severs his little finger, causing medical urgency and verifiable injury. Attorneys have medical bills for emergency treatment, a sticker claiming the glass was tempered and a client who lost two weeks of work due to the personal injury. Lawyers know this scenario would likely rise to the level needed to satisfy the first criteria for liability and injury.

Attorneys then will investigate to determine how the glass was defective. Our Petaluma liability lawyers say this may not be as simple as it appears. A defect in a product can be traced to more than one source. Perhaps it happened in the design or the manufacturing process or even in the marketing of the product that caused the injury. Attorneys look carefully to identify the source that caused the Petaluma injury. Adept lawyers might consider the engineering of the glass or even the marketing company that assigned that ‘tempered glass’ sticker to the table top assuring consumers it would not break into life-threatening shards and lead to serious personal injury. Attorneys consider the entire chain of manufacture when assessing a claim for product liability.

Attorneys even look closely at product warnings and directions. These features are intended to further protect consumers from injury. Our Petaluma product liability lawyers know this as possible defective marketing that often plays a role in defective product law. In the former example of the table top, a marketing error could have led to the glass being mislabeled. Instead, installation directions and warnings should have indicated the danger of using un-tempered glass because mishandling can cause grievous injury.

Product Liability Law for PetalumaAttorneys, however, also explain that manufacturers are protected from frivolous claims of personal injury. Our lawyers say that when a person uses an item for a task it wasn’t intended for, claim of a defect may not be credible. Consider this: A woman comes to our Petaluma personal injury attorney and explains she has damaged her appearance after using hair color to color her eyebrows. She says she now looks like Groucho Marx and the hair dye burned her eyes so badly she had to see a doctor. The hair color instructions, however, specifically warn against using the product anywhere except on hair located on the head, her Petaluma injury lawyer tells her. She argues that hair is hair – no matter the location and the product was defective and caused her harm and financial injury. Her lawyer further learns she stopped going to work because she was embarrassed. She wants her Petaluma liability attorney to argue for medical reimbursement and lost wages. Sorry, our injury attorney says. The consumer was warned and paid no attention. Her case would not meet the criteria necessary to qualify as a defect injury.

But lawyers point out that cases are not always so black an,d white. As an example our Petaluma injury attorneys offer this scenario: A man uses a barbeque fork, designed for turning meat, to pierce a potato, and stabs his hand in the process. He punctures a vein and must get medical attention for his personal injury. Our attorney would initially suspect that no product defect caused the accident but, rather, the cook’s poor judgment was responsible for the injury.

Lawyers delve closely into the details of product liability law. Our Petaluma personal injury attorneys understand that most people don’t encounter defective product law until after suffering a personal injury. A lawyer’s education, practice and interests can help people prepare to seek just compensation for losses suffered due to a product defect that’s cause injury.

Our attorneys, for example, are closely monitoring the nation’s current (and largest) product defect news involving automobile manufacturers and Takata, the maker of defective airbags that have allegedly cost deaths and injury. Our lawyers know the legal process may be lengthy and, almost certainly, very complicated. Petaluma personal injury attorneys are interested to see how many links in the manufacturing chain may be involved in upcoming legal actions and how the courts will treat individuals and families of those who suffered death or injury.

Our Petaluma injury lawyers believe that people suffering losses because of a manufacturing defect – physical, mental and/or financial losses – should be compensated by those responsible for their injury. Attorneys who specialize in defective product law facilitate and fight for justice within the often complex structure of the judicial and legal system.

In Petaluma, DUI attorneys at Sette Law want drivers in our community to be aware of the physical effects of alcohol that too often lead to a serious accident. As injury lawyers, we see first-hand the terrible results of the decision to drink and drive. Concrete, scientific information, our accident attorneys hope, may educate people and help prevent Petaluma accidents.

Our DUI lawyers, like you, have heard individuals say “I drive better drunk than sober!” Of course, nothing is further from the truth. As Petaluma injury attorneys we know that even small amounts of alcohol can, and do, cause changes in the brain. With current medical technology, researchers are able to identify exactly what happens when people drink alcohol – our Petaluma DUI lawyers may not be medical experts but we too can observe the results from PET and MRI studies now available.

Elements of alcohol can penetrate the brain from the body’s blood circulatory system. DUI accident lawyers know that it isn’t the ‘kind’ of alcohol imbibed but, rather, how much over time. Generally, more than one drink per hour can affect neurons in the brain and impair judgment that may lead to a Petaluma DUI accident. Our attorneys point to an accident in April on West Hammer lane in which a young male pedestrian was killed by a driver who was booked at the scene for a DUI. Our lawyers note that the motorist was driving on a license that had been suspended for a previous Petaluma DUI.

Accident attorneys know that tragic events like this are preventable. Just being aware of the physical effects of alcohol on the brain should discourage irresponsible drinking that distorts judgment, vision, perception, reaction time and other alterations that can, and do, lead to Petaluma DUI accidents. Lawyers will, most likely, be looking at this recent case as a potential wrongful death accident.

Attorneys Cite Disturbing StatisticsPetaluma accident lawyers draw upon many sources for data including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the FBI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among others tracking DUI’s. Our attorneys believe these statistics ought to add to the case for greater attention to prevention. The numbers of people injured and killed in DUI accidents, our attorneys say, is proof that greater education on the topic is needed.

Our Petaluma accident attorneys say that almost one-third of the nation’s traffic deaths involved DUI drivers. According to the CDC, 10,322 individuals died in 2012 due to DUI drivers. Sadly, our injury lawyers note that 239 of those victims were under the age of 14 and half of that number were passengers of a driver impaired by alcohol, headed for an accident.

Injury attorneys report that about 30 people lose their lives every day due to a drunk driving accident. Our lawyers know that untold pain and hardship accompany each of these accidents that happen once every 51 minutes, according to the CDC. And, although Petaluma injury attorneys focus on the loss to victims, the cost to the entire country for DUI crashes tops $59 billion. Although California statistics are generally lower than national DUI accident numbers, our Petaluma injury lawyers believe there’s lots of room for improvement.

Education is Essential for Youth in PetalumaAccident attorneys are aware that teens are particularly tempted to experiment with alcohol. In Michigan, a study found that almost 50% of kids in 10th grade say they drink, and 30% of youngsters in the eighth grade admit to the same. Nationwide, our Petaluma DUI lawyers say that about 4,700 teenagers are killed each year due to alcohol use that led to accidents. Our lawyers further report that the National Academies Press published a finding about the prevalence of binge drinking among teens. While one in six teens reported they indulged in binge drinking, just one out of 100 parents thought it possible of their son or daughter.

As parents, our Petaluma DUI attorneys know that kids are under lots of peer pressure. That’s why our injury lawyers support heightened education about the dangers posed by alcohol. From scientific facts to the gruesome details of DUI accidents, our attorneys believe information is essential to preventing teenage alcohol use that can lead to a tragic DUI accident.

Attorneys say the focus should start in the teenage years so that when youngster get to the “drinking age” they are aware of alcohol’s effect on brain and body. This is when young people face the greatest threat of a DUI accident, our attorneys explain. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration showed that, in 2011, drivers from the age of 21 to 25 logged the most DUI accidents. Attorneys also reference a NHTSA study for the same age group showing that 32 percent drove while drunk. Petaluma DUI Lawyers Urge Awareness The numbers are pretty staggering, according to our Petaluma accident attorneys. Although masses of people admit to driving drunk (21.9 million drivers) far fewer are ever arrested. A 2013 study by the FBI indicated that each day 300,000 people drive while drunk – however, a mere 4,000 arrests were made for DUIs. Attorneys and law enforcement officials are also aware that about one-third of drivers nabbed are repeat offenders.

Sette’s Petaluma DUI lawyers are also aware of recent accidents in nearby Sacramento in which alcohol likely played a deadly role. This spring, xx people were killed by wrong-way drivers on Sacramento freeways. Our injury attorneys hope Petaluma drivers take a lesson from these tragedies. Also, it’s useful to know that 36 percent of DUI accidents happen after dark, and just 8% during daylight hours, according to a 2011 survey by the National Highway Transportation Association.

Our work as Petaluma DUI accident lawyers forces us to be hyper aware of the dangers of mixing alcohol and driving. As wrongful death attorneys we’ve seen the lifetime loss and pain caused by a driver losing his or her judgment after too many drinks. The results are irreversible – our wrongful death lawyers can fight for financial compensation but nothing will restore a life lost in a Petaluma DUI.

Our attorneys urge people to be cognizant of the dangers and risks taken when people choose to drink and drive.

Bicycle accidents and car accidents may not seem to have a lot in common, but according to Stockton personal injury attorneys, at least one facet is shared. And that is related to the actions that people involved should take after an accident that may have caused an injury. Our lawyers advise drivers and riders to minimize post-accident conversation. According to Stockton personal injury lawyers at Sette Law, comments made after any accident can come back to haunt both plaintiff and defendant in court. Personal injury attorneys say that even an innocent “I’m sorry” may be interpreted as admission of guilt. Consequently, our accident and injury lawyers suggest that conversation is only about insurance and contacts, and little else after an accident in Stockton.

Personal injury attorneys also encourage the victims of bicycle accidents to pay attention to details surrounding the incident that led to injury. Lawyers suggest that people take note of events leading up to the accident, and use a cell phone camera to document the physical environment. Our Stockton personal injury attorneys can use such documentation to support the case of a plaintiff or defendant whom we represent.

Yet another practice our Stockton personal injury lawyers advise is that bicycle accident victims promptly get medical attention. When plaintiff’s claim injury, our attorneys must show that harm was done specifically by the accident. However, when a victim waits for many hours or days, the defendant’s accident and injury lawyer might seek to prove the injury was pre-existing or, even, fabricated.

In summation, our Stockton personal injury attorneys say that post-accident behavior is essentially the same for car accidents and for bicycle accidents. But that’s where the similarity stops.

Injuries Are Often Severe for Bicyclists in StocktonPersonal injury lawyers at Sette Law are keenly aware that bike riders are most at risk in any traffic accident. Our attorneys point to the physical vulnerability and lack of protection available for bicycle riders on the streets of Stockton. Accident lawyers also know that nationwide statistics support the reality of increased risk of injury to bicyclists in collisions with motorists. Among the organizations monitoring bicycle accidents is the Pedestrian and Bicycle safety Center. In 2012, the group found that at least two bicyclists died due to accidents each day of the year. But, Stockton injury lawyers say that figure pales compared to the 29,000 bike riders who were injured that year. And, since many bike accidents are never reported to authorities, our personal injury attorneys believe the figure could be significantly larger.

How can bicyclists keep themselves safer of the streets of Stockton? Accident and injury attorneys at Sette Law offer a few best practices to follow, starting with the most fundamental protection of all – always wear an approved bicycle helmet to avoid head injury. Our lawyers point out that head injury is one of the major outcomes of a serious bicycle accident – an outcome that’s, at least partly, avoidable.

Our Stockton accident attorneys are aware of numerous studies that show how effective helmets are in preventing grave head injury. Our lawyers, in fact, are vigilant about insisting their families don helmets for each and every bike ride. Our legal experience has exposed us to the very significant, sometimes life changing, impacts of brain injury, and attorneys take that knowledge home!

Stockton Accident Attorneys Say Small Precautions MatterIn addition to making a habit of wearing a bicycle helmet, there are other safety measures that help prevent bicycle accidents. Our lawyers say it may sound a bit surprising but the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that riding bikes in the street should be one of the safest places to ride. That’s because the rules of the road apply to vehicles as well as cars. Our personal injury attorneys say this creates a more predictable environment for both riders and drivers. The exception to this suggestion is youngsters under the age of ten. Our Stockton injury lawyers report that experts find the brain development and maturity of riders under ten is not sufficient to manage the demands of street traffic. However, knowing that children may be riding bikes on sidewalks places onus on motorists backing out of their driveways to be very aware! Our Stockton personal injury lawyers do not want to represent an injured youngster or an unaware motorist who struck a child and caused serious injury. Attorneys see pain on both sides of this kind of incident. Caution on the part of motorist and young rider are fundamental to prevention of Stockton bicycle accidents.

Injury attorneys further say that bicyclists riding on roadways are advised to adopt extreme safety measures. From our extensive experience as Stockton personal injury lawyers, we know that bicyclists almost always suffer the most serious injuries in a collision with a vehicle. Consequently, it’s in the best interest of bike riders to develop consistent safety practices such as constantly monitoring surrounding traffic and anticipating unexpected maneuvers that could cause accident and injury. Attorneys agree that bicycle safety experts put a lot of the responsibility for safety on the shoulders of the bike rider. But, from our experience as Stockton personal injury lawyers representing seriously injured bicyclists, we agree that this ‘defensive riding’ approach only makes sense. Anticipate car doors opening from parked cars, or drivers swerving in traffic. Our Stockton accident lawyers have seen many accidents that may have been avoided by conscientious bike riders and vehicle drivers.

Other precautions supported by our Stockton accident and injury lawyers include the practice of bicyclists wearing clothing that stands out. No, not everyone wants to wear bright ‘race team’ type bike garb but most bicyclists can afford colored tee-shirts or jackets as one simple measure to prevent a bicycle accident.

Injury attorneys at Sette Law have many years of experience, backed by many years of legal training in accident and injury law. However, that doesn’t make it easy for our Stockton accident lawyers to represent a badly injured bicyclist. We know the lifelong challenges faced by accident victims suffering traumatic brain injuries so common in bike accidents. Our Stockton personal injury attorneys urge bicyclists to adopt strict safety practices.

Attorneys at Sette Law understand the lure of riding motorcycles in and around Stockton. Our lawyers, however, also understand the often dire consequences of a serious motorcycle accident. As attorneys we are aware of grim statistics that clearly indicate the high risk factors attributed to riding motorcycles. Our Stockton injury lawyers have access to state and national data bases that show how vulnerable riders are in any kind of motorcycle accident.

Our attorneys point out that it’s not just the obvious factors – such as driving while intoxicated – that contribute to Stockton motorcycle accidents. Lawyers, however, highlight the fact that drinking and riding a bike is a particularly bad combination. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 27 percent of motorcycle accident deaths in 2012 were attributed to drunk driving. A full 2,000 deaths involved single car accidents. Attorneys add that 43 percent of all motorcycle crashes that year involved drunk driving – except on weekends when the figure rose to 64 percent! Stockton injury lawyers note that this is one kind of crash that can, in fact, easily be avoided.

Clearly, drinking and driving is a bad idea for all drivers, but Stockton injury attorneys emphasize, particularly so for motorcyclists. Alcohol diminishes balance and judgment – critical to avoiding any accident but more so for Stockton motorcycle riders. Injury lawyers say that, all too often, an alcohol impaired rider will be the cause of an accident. Irresponsible riding while under the influence can easily lead to the rider being held liable for a motorcycle accident, our injury lawyers say.

Bike Riders at Higher risk of death and InjuryAttorneys are alarmed at the disproportionate number of injuries and deaths to motorcycle riders, compared to motorists. According to a 2006 NHTSA report 13.10 percent of 100,000 car accidents led to deaths. But our Stockton injury lawyers observe that figure pales compared to the 72-plus percent of deaths for motorcycle riders in the same period.

Stockton accident and injury attorneys say that additional NHTSA data highlights even greater risk inherent in motorcycle accidents. Attorneys say Administration figures for 2012 showed a 7.1 percent increase in motorcycle accidents over 2011. This translates to far greater risk of death in a motorcycle accident. Injury lawyers know that bike riders are five times more likely to die in an accident than are vehicle drivers. In 2012, NHTSA recorded 93,000 injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents. Our Stockton personal injury attorneys believe these figures are a wake-up call for all motorcycle riders.

Older Riders face Higher Risk of Stockton AccidentsOur injury lawyers reference 2011 data from the NHTSA showing that riders over the age of 40 accounted for 56 percent of motorcycle deaths. Older riders seem to favor big bikes – comfortable for touring and traveling the byroads of Stockton. Injury attorneys, however, say the weight of such bikes makes them harder to handle. Roll overs of big bikes are not uncommon in Stockton accidents. Attorneys say the heft of such bikes, coupled with somewhat diminished physical condition of older riders adds to the risk of injury and death in Stockton motorcycle accidents. Our lawyers say that NHTSA looked at accidents from 2002 to 2011 and found a 78 percent rise in fatalities of riders 40-plus. During the same period, fatalities to younger motorcycle riders actually declined.

Stockton injury lawyers also report that riders of so-called super bikes, favored by young and often inexperienced riders, also faced an increased risk of death in a Stockton accident. Injury attorneys say these light and very fast bikes (some can get up to 190 mph) were four times more deadly in an accident. Lawyers posit that although speed is a factor, young riders are often inexperienced and lack mature judgment.

Tactics to prevent Stockton Motorcycle AccidentsInjury attorneys at Sette Law first highlight the obvious – no one should ever drink alcohol and drive a motorcycle. Clearly, impaired riding is a major factor in deaths and injuries to motorcycle riders. But accident lawyers say there are many other precautions that can make it safer for bike riders in Stockton.

Injury lawyers completely support helmet laws. Head injuries are the leading cause of fatalities in motorcycle accidents. Without a helmet a rider faces a 40 percent greater chance of death and 15 percent increase chance of injury in a Stockton accident. Injury attorneys consider this as basic safety equipment for all motorcycle riders.

Motorcycle associations across America offer further guidelines for safer riding. Stockton injury lawyers admit that most of the responsibility for riders’ personal safety rests with the motorcyclist. Although this may seem a bit ‘unfair’ the NHTSA statistics on motorcycle deaths and injuries support heightened awareness for rider in Stockton. Our injury attorneys say that cars making left turns in front of a bike rider is both common and dangerous. Unfortunately, it may be up to the motorcyclist to monitor his surroundings because many times, vehicle drivers seem blind to motorcycles. Stockton accident lawyers also say that motorcycle associations caution riders about the potential for car drivers to change lanes without signaling their intentions. Fair or not, our Stockton injury lawyers say that vigilance on the part of motorcyclists can prevent an accident in which they have the most to lose.

Deaths, disabilities and the risk of injury are ever present in the recreational pastime of motorcycle riding. Our Stockton injury attorneys understand the allure of riding and, at the same time, deal directly with the outcome of motorcycle crashes. A serious accident can change lives and take lives of riders in Stockton. Our injury lawyers believe that riders must step up their safety game so that they can enjoy the thrill of riding while minimizing risk. Since bike riders face the biggest risk of death and injury, our Stockton accident attorneys encourage riders to access safety courses offered by the California Highway Patrol. By developing consistent safety habits, Stockton motorcycle riders can enjoy the thrills of riding minus the perils and pain of accidents our Stockton injury attorneys deal with all too often.